Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing The Monitoring And Management Of Overweight And Obesity In Children Hospitalized For Asthma, Anne E. Borgmeyer

Dissertations

Asthma and overweight are two of the most common chronic health problems in children. Data support a relationship between the two health issues. Although asthma is one of the top reasons for hospital admission for children, little is known about the prevalence of overweight and obesity or clinical practice related to weight in children hospitalized for asthma. The purpose of this project was to assess weight characteristics of children admitted with asthma, as well as the current practices of monitoring and management of overweight and obesity in children hospitalized with asthma. A retrospective review of medical records was conducted. The …

The Relationship Of Postsecondary Outcomes For Students With Disabilities In Kentucky Schools, Stephanie Dawn Cornwell

Dissertations

In order to compare the postsecondary success rates of students with disabilities in rural areas to those in urban areas in Kentucky, data were accessed from the Kentucky Postsecondary Outcome Study, a longitudinal study created to monitor the employment and education status of students with disabilities during their final year of high school and one year after exiting high school. U.S. Census data were also utilized to determine various demographic information and rural or urban classification of selected areas. Results show that the geographic classification as rural and suburban has a strong relationship with the postsecondary outcome for students with …

Symptom Burden And Healthcare Utilization In Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Catherina Anne Madani Phd

Dissertations

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rapidly progressive disease. There is currently no cure; thus treatment is aimed at prolonging survival, improving functional status (FS), and symptom mitigation. Symptom burden (SB) can impact quality of life (QOL), and lead to increased healthcare utilization. Palliative care (PC) has been associated with higher QOL, decreased depression, aggressive care, and mortality. The Institute of Medicine's (IOM) recent report supports earlier integration of PC for people living with serious illness. Detection of patients at high risk for heavy SB may help to identify patients who could benefit from earlier integration of PC into …

Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer: Quality Of Life And Perception Of Dyspnea, Barbara A. Roces Phd, Msn, Np, Rn

Dissertations

Background: Dyspnea perception can be defined as a multidimensional experience of breathing discomfort, influenced by physiological, psychological, social, and environmental factors, that includes secondary psychological and behavioral responses and cannot be defined only by physical objective abnormalities (Mularski et al., 2010). Dyspnea is the most common and distressing symptom in patients with advanced lung cancer and decreases one's quality of life (QOL) (Smith et al., 2001). Furthermore, dyspnea has been found to interfere with physical activities such as walking, work, and psychological activities such as disposition, taking pleasure in life, relationship with others, and sleep (Tanaka, Akechi, Okuyama, Nishiwaki, & …

Patient Care Technology And The Nurse-Patient Relationship, Belinda M. Toole Phd, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

Background: Technological devices are increasingly used in healthcare and their proliferation has providers questioning the impact on the patient-provider relationship. Technological device integration has been studied in the primary care setting, less extensively in the acute care setting. The impact of device use on the nurse-patient relationship in acute care setting required further study, particularly with nursing's history of holistic practice incorporating caring and presence. Objectives: The study purpose was to explore the patient's perceptions of nurse caring and presence when technological devices were used in care delivery in the acute care setting. Specific aims were: 1) to describe the …

Pharmacy Student Perceptions: How Do They Change And What Does That Mean?, Erika Lynn Michalski

Dissertations

With healthcare moving rapidly toward interprofessional expectations, this study examined the perceptions of a particular population of students pursuing a degree in the healthcare field. Pharmacy students attending a free-standing pharmacy institution were interviewed over the course of the 2012 – 2013 academic year. Interviews were conducted before, during, and after the students engaged in collaborative coursework with students from a variety of health care majors attending a nearby institution. The results demonstrated the positive impact exposure to peer students pursuing degrees in health care fields can have. Results of the interview process highlighted the impact intentional interaction with a …

A Quantitative Study Of Educational Poverty, School Location, And Student Achievement Measured By The Program For International Student Assessment (Pisa), Brett Barger

Dissertations

The performance of the United States’ students on international tests remains an ongoing source of concern, division, and anxiety for government, educational, and business leaders, teachers (and their unions), as well as the general public. These selfsame test results have been used as evidence to support diametrically opposed political and educational strategy and policy for decades. All too often the performance of students is discussed with a single test score number that is used to represent the entirety of the education system’s students without accounting for geographical, demographic, or socioeconomic differences among the student test takers. The contributing factors of …

Depressive Symptomatology And Perceived Social Support In Adolescents With Type 2 Diabetes, Kristiana Gay Huffman Cullum Phd, Cpnp

Dissertations

Type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically in the pediatric population in the last decade. One of the comorbidities of diabetes is depression. In the presence of depression, diabetes may be mismanaged by patients and lead to a decline in health. Diabetes with comorbid depression may have better disease management outcomes in the presence of higher levels of social support. Defining childhood depression, which encompasses adolescence, and the subtleties of this disorder compared to the adult counterpart, was needed to better delineate important variables for this research study. There are several instruments that evaluate adolescents' perceived social support, but a fairly …

Non-Restrictive Environment After Age 21: Program Placement For Young Adults With Severe Developmental Disabilities, Deborah Dirisio

Dissertations

For students with significant disabilities, the process of transitioning from their secondary school setting to their post-secondary setting includes the exploration of potential adult settings. This paper explored the perspectives of secondary school personnel, as well as the viewpoints of personnel from St. Louis area post-secondary programs, as to the characteristics which determine adult program placement. State agencies that facilitate Person Centered Plans were also interviewed regarding viewpoints as to how secondary students with significant disabilities could seek and secure their most non-restrictive adult program placements. Research questions included: (1) How do the Missouri Alternative Frameworks utilized in secondary programming …

The Impact Of A School-To-Work Transition Program On Self-Determination Of Young Adults With A Diagnosis Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Ambumulire Nellie Phiri

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of participation in a school-to-work transition program on self-determination of young adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Five young adults between the ages of 18 and 22 with a diagnosis of ASD were the focus of the study. The young adults participated in a university-based Project SEARCH (PS) school-to-work transition program. The program provided the students with internship opportunities in custodial service, food service, laundry service, computer and technology lab, and office administration. A basic qualitative research design was used to examine the experiences of the five students in …

It’S In The Mix. An Exploratory Study Into The Experiences Of Children, Parents And Staff In The Provision Of A Mixed Age Group Model In A West Dublin Early Years’ Setting., Helena Goodwin

Dissertations

The main aim of this study is to explore the perceptions and experiences of children, parents and staff participating in a mixed-age model of early year’s provision using a qualitative approach. The researcher will take an approach which will aim to interpret and clarify the participant’s experiences.

Using semi-structured interviews, a focus group and an observation of practice the study will address questions such as what were the perceptions of the children, staff and parents experiencing a mixed age group model. Has the mixed-age model proved to be advantageous and/or challenging to the community of the service? How could the …

Children’S Right To Be Heard: Exploring Children’S Perceptions Of Happiness And Factors Contributing To Happiness In The Pre-School Environment., Donna Tobin

Dissertations

There has been a growing recognition for children’s voices to be heard on matters which affect their lives. This has been encouraged by the ratification of the UNCRC in Ireland which has influenced numerous other policies. This study aims to provide an opportunity for young children to have their voices heard and demonstrate how children can be involved as active research participants in empirical research. An emphasis was placed on positive psychology. The aim was to explore the children’s perception of happiness and ascertain the factors which contributed to their happiness within the pre-school environment. Fifteen children attending a pre-school …

An Investigation Of Youth Participation In An Irish Youth Mental Health Service: Staff And Young People’S Perspectives., James Barry

Dissertations

Youth participation is widely recognised as essential to the design and delivery of youth mental health services (Coates & Howe, 2014). Despite this there is limited literature available on youth participation in these services (Monson & Thurley, 2011). This study aimed to develop an enhanced understanding about youth participation in Headstrong, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health and it’s programme of service delivery Jigsaw. A mixed methods approach, using focus groups and questionnaires, gathered the opinions of 160 staff and young people involved in the organisation, on their experiences of youth participation. The factors that supported youth participation were …

Including Children With Disabilities In Mainstream Education: An Exploration Of The Challenges And Considerations For Parents And Primary School Teachers, Gail Ferguson

Dissertations

Recent decades have seen children’s rights and the rights of persons with disabilities come to the fore. Current policy emphasis on inclusive education means that more children with disabilities and special educational needs are being placed in mainstream education instead of special schools, as was traditionally the case. The aim of this study was to explore the area of inclusion in education, from the perspective of primary school teachers and parents of children with intellectual disabilities. A key objective was to determine if the reality of including children with disabilities in mainstream settings corresponded with the policy on inclusion.

A …

Implementation Of An Inter-District Curriculum Consortium Among Ten Rural School Districts In Colorado: A Case Study, Jim D. Copeland

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Efficacy And Feasibilities Of An Evidence Based Program For Seventh Graders On Teen Dating Violence An Evidence Based Nursing Practice Project, Jaclyn A. Lanham

Dissertations

The presence of teen dating violence (TDV) among the adolescent population is becoming recognized as a significant problem in the U.S. and worldwide. A growing body of evidence has begun to reveal the magnitude of the problem to include not only the negative effects on health throughout life, but also on the severity of the problem which can begin early and continue into adulthood. The purpose of this project was to determine if an evidence-based TDV prevention program for 7^th grade students in a rural middle school was feasible and effective for increasing knowledge and understanding of dating violence …

Skin Cancer Risk Perception And Sunscreen Use In Adolescent Female Soccer Athletes, Cheryl L. Butera Phd, Msn, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Np-C, Phn

Dissertations

Over 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually in the United States. In adolescent females ages 15-19, melanoma is the second most common form of cancer. The greatest risk factor for skin cancer is ultraviolet rays from the sun. Research has shown that sunscreen use is protective of all skin cancers, especially melanoma. The purpose of this study was to obtain perceptions about risk of skin cancer and sunscreen use among 13- to 18-year-old adolescent female club soccer athletes as a basis for effective interventions to improve sunscreen use in this population. The Health Belief Model was employed …

Austerity In 21st. Century Dublin: Has Recession Altered Our Relationship With Food Purchasing And Preparation?, Diarmaid Murphy

Dissertations

The current global recession has affected almost all countries whose economies adhere to free-market principles and are involved in international money markets. Ireland, along with the majority of its European trading partners both inside and outside the eurozone has seen a sharp fall in the standard of living of its citizens in the years since the financial crisis emerged (2007 to present). In common with the almost universal international paradigm, Irish citizens have had drastic austerity measures imposed upon them. In Ireland’s case, the underwriting of private banking debt and its subsequent conversion to sovereign debt served to contract the …

A Study Of Serious Violent And Sexual Offenders Released On Supervised Licence In Northern Ireland Between 2010 And 2013., Alexandra Delimata

Dissertations

Extended Custodial Sentences for serious offenders were introduced under the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008. Recall rates for these offenders appear disproportionately high compared with other types of public protection sentenced offenders in Northern Ireland. Guided by life-course theories and using mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative research, the study investigates the outcomes for ECS offenders released into the community between 2010 and 2013. Content analysis developed profiles of all (N=57) ECS offenders released under supervised licence by 31 December 2013 and examined characteristics of recalled (N=31) and non-recalled (N=26) offenders to identify possible contributing factors to recall. The …

From Institution To Integration: The Perspectives And Experiences Of Disability Sector Staff In The Transition To New Directions., Derek Bryan

Dissertations

Day services play a large part in the community life of people with intellectual disabilities. The challenge for the Health Service Executive in its 2012 review of adult day services was to propose a modern service. The review culminated in a new approach called New Directions. This study aimed to explore experiences and perspectives of staff from the disability sector on the proposed new ways of working with people with intellectual disabilities including how they believe New Directions can best work. This objective was achieved by interviewing twelve staff (including some volunteers) and managers from a disability organisation. At the …

“If They Fail That First Year, It’S Very Hard For Them To Recover”: An Exploration Of Factors That Support And Hinder The Transition To Mainstream School For Children With Special Educational Needs And Their Families., Fiona Hassett

Dissertations

The transition to school is increasingly recognised as a significant life event for children, with a positive or negative transition impacting on their social and emotional wellbeing and academic achievements. Children with special educational needs are at an increased risk of a poor adjustment to school and their families are vulnerable to additional stresses due to the child’s special educational needs. The transition to school is therefore an important period for these families, and the supports available to them to make this transition as smooth as possible are essential to provide children with the best possible start to formal education. …

A Study Of Alternative Education Programs In The State Of Missouri, Ronald Joshua Ladd

Dissertations

The focus of this study was to examine the characteristics of alternative programs in the state of Missouri and to determine whether a statistical difference in the persistence to graduation rate existed between the two variations of programs. When identifying the characteristics, several commonalities emerged. These commonalities could be the focus of future studies to determine a list of best-practices among alternative programs. When focusing on the statistical element of this study, the two programs in question were revolving door and one-way programs. For the purpose of this study, a revolving door style program was defined as one that assesses …

Deciding On Science: An Analysis Of Higher Education Science Student Major Choice Criteria, Stephen Wilson White

Dissertations

The number of college students choosing to major in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in the United States affects the size and quality of the American workforce (Winters, 2009). The number of graduates in these academic fields has been on the decline in the United States since the 1960s, which, according to Lips and McNeil (2009), has resulted in a diminished ability of the United States to compete in science and engineering on the world stage. The purpose of this research was to learn why students chose a STEM major and determine what decision criteria influenced this decision. According …

New Directions For Remote Data Integrity Checking Of Cloud Storage, Bo Chen

Dissertations

Cloud storage services allow data owners to outsource their data, and thus reduce their workload and cost in data storage and management. However, most data owners today are still reluctant to outsource their data to the cloud storage providers (CSP), simply because they do not trust the CSPs, and have no confidence that the CSPs will secure their valuable data. This dissertation focuses on Remote Data Checking (RDC), a collection of protocols which can allow a client (data owner) to check the integrity of data outsourced at an untrusted server, and thus to audit whether the server fulfills its contractual …

The Experience Of Reducing Environmental Risks In An Environmental Justice Community, Gabriela Dory

Dissertations

Research on Environmental Justice (EJ) communities has focused on quantitative assessment of environmental hazards and general physical health problems. Little is known about how individuals living in EJ communities perceive their environmental risks and how they reduce environmental risks. The purpose of the study is to explore and describe the perceived environmental risks and the experience of reducing environmental risk among individuals living in an EJ community.

A qualitative and longitudinal design with a descriptive phenomenological method is used to recruit 23 participants living in a known EJ community in the urban area of New Jersey. A total of 43 …

A Comparative Study Of Select Autism Advocacy And Research Organizations: Their Mission, Purpose And Focus Related To The Efficacy Of Service(S) Provided To Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Peter Joseph Sciabarra Phd

Dissertations

Autism has been prominently featured in the news headlines of the Western world for well over 30 years. A reported rise in the incidence of autism has sparked a corresponding increase of interest in research, treatment modalities, and political considerations related to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). The first autism organization in the United States, the National Society for Autistic Children, currently the Autism Society of America, was founded in 1965, devoted to autism research, resources, and services; the dissemination of information; and support and advocacy. Organizations devoted to autism research, resources and services, the dissemination of information, support and advocacy …

Tap The Screen: Technology Integration In Our Students’ Lives, Matthew J. Fuller

Dissertations

The focus of this study is to document and describe the integration of technology in the everyday lives of students in Grades 3–8 attending a high-performing public school district in an affluent Chicago suburb. The following research questions guide this study:

• How do students in Grades 3–8 integrate technology into their lives?
• What are the implications of students’ technology integration for teaching and learning?
• How can teachers capitalize upon students’ technology integration in ways that inform instructional practice?

A review of the literature presents related information in areas that explore the increasingly digital world of our students; curriculum, instruction, and …

Increasing Patients’ Knowledge In Transmission Of Bacterial Vaginosis And Its Treatment Regimens, Debra Garner

Dissertations

Research has shown bacterial vaginosis to be one of the most common vaginal disorders in women of child bearing age (Chen, Tian, & Beigi, 2009; Centers for Disease Control, 2012; Menard, 2011). Each year many women are seen by their gynecologist, sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics, and emergency rooms (ER) for complaints of having malodorous discharge (Bradshaw, et al., 2005). Several STI’s and adverse pregnancy outcomes have been attributed to women having bacterial vaginosis (Bradshaw, et al, 2005; Chen, et al.2009; Elkins, & Mayeaux, 2010). Women are predisposed to bacterial vaginosis by the use of wearing non cotton underwear, douching, …

Provider Perception Of Patient Satisfaction If Antibiotics Are Not Given For Upper Respiratory Infection, Robyn Doniel Drake

Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to assess if advanced practice nurse practitioners perceived patient satisfaction of patients seen in Metropolitan Retail Clinics was improved after educational materials were given to explain when antibiotics work. I hypothesized that provider perception of patient satisfaction would decrease unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics after providing patient education? This project used questionnaires to collect data from control and intervention groups to demonstrate a gain in provider perception if patient satisfaction after education was given in the intervention group. The results of this project did not reveal to the primary investigator what was originally assumed, that …

Nutrition, Appetite And Weight Loss In Elders Living In Long-Term Care Facilities, Karene Marie Goodman

Dissertations

Abstract Elders living in long-term care facilities often experience weight loss. Weight loss in elders has been shown to increase their risk of death. Existing research has identified numerous factors associated with appetite and weight loss in elders. Dementia, depression, acute and chronic illness, and medications have all been identified as potential causes of decreased appetite and weight loss in elders. Only a few nutritional and appetite assessment tools exist, and these tools are not widely used in long-term care facilities. The purpose of this descriptive study was to validate the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ), an appetite assessment tool …